Darelle Wilson says the potential of the new Vauxhall Astra TCR is good

Darelle Wilson had a strong outing in the first round of the TCR UK championship at Silverstone, finishing seventh in Race 2 from the back of the grid, after he received the dubious honour of becoming the championship’s first retiree in Race 1 due to contact.

The 29-year-old was running with his own team DW Racing at the weekend, competing with a Vauxhall Astra TCR, the only one in the field, but had limited track time as he was unable to take part in the Friday media day tests as he waiting for car builders Kissling Motorsport to arrive.

“The car was quick,” Wilson told TouringCarTimes. “I was having a problem with understeer at the first corner, but then got knocked off by the Hyundai, which wasn’t great, but just had to bounce back and try and do my best.

“The potential of the car is good, I just have to learn to drive it more really. Yesterday and today are the only time I’ve had in the car, so it’s all new to me. We were getting quicker and quicker as we go.”

Wilson also carried battle damage after Race 2 when he lost his rear bumper after a knock from Jessica Bäckman in the WestCoast Racing Volkswagen, but he said it was all part of racing.

“I got hit by that Golf there, she tapped me at the back but I didn’t come off so I don’t mind, rubbing is racing at the end of the day.

“(In Race 2) I tried to keep my head down and be consistent with the lap times, and all my lap times were within two-tenths of each other, so it wasn’t too bad. I can’t wait until the next race at Knockhill, though I’ve never been around there before.”